GenGateway

WHY THIS HISTORY IS ENTITLED, "MILITARY EDITION."

The fame of the Nation's distinguished soldiers is perpetuated in National History and it is no less fitting that the memories of the humbler soldiers of the Republic should be preserved in the annals of their particular communities. The generation which participated in the great Civil War is passing away. In a few years the muffled drum-beat will sound the requiem of the last soldier of that war, and the only record of duty well done by so many of them will be buried in the oblivion of incomplete and inaccurate State archives.

To preserve the gallant deeds of the fathers as an inspiration to the sons, should be the care of every community in the Union. It is now almost too late to gather the personal relations of the actors in that conflict and the work undertaken in these pages by the author could not be again accomplished. The military record of every known Henry County soldier and sailor has been ascertained and in many instances, the official printed record of the Adjutant General of the State has been corrected by the recollections of the soldier himself or his comrades, and by documentary evidence still in existence. In other instances, however, the official printed record of the Adjutant General of the State is the only evidence of a soldier's service procurable at this late day. Those records consist of eight volumes of seven hundred pages each, and contain, approximately, the names of two hundred thousand soldiers, besides much other printed matter. In so far as they relate to Henry County, at least, there are many errors. This is easily explained by the fact that soldiers' names vary for different enlistments, lead- ing to a confusion of identity, in many cases impossible to straighten out except from personal knowledge. For instance a supposititious soldier named James Clinton Smith may be recorded in one place as "James C. Smith," and in one or more other places as "J.C. Smith" or "C. Smith" or "J. Smith." Because of its magnitude and the hurry with which it was compiled, immediately after the Civil War, the work contains many similar inaccuracies. It is, however, the only printed record of Indiana's part in the great conflict and must remain of inestimable value, and the record of no county of the State in the Civil War can be completed without making it the foundation.

In order that a generation which has grown up since the Civil War may have a more vivid conception of the thoughts and feelings which stirred their fathers' youth, and of the lives of American soldiers, the author has taken in hand the preparation of an account of those things most necessary to a full understanding of the war between the States. The threads and strands of County, State and National life are so intimately interwoven that an account of one cannot well be given without extended reference to the others. A general view of Federal and State interests is, therefore, given, beginning with an account of Indiana's "Great War Governor," who contributed so mightily to the preservation of the Union, and then describing the development of the conflict; the life of the soldier: the part of the negro soldier in the conflict; and statistical information, which, if not of interest to the casual reader, it is hoped may prove of value to students of the military affairs of the country.

Henry County's contribution is found in the rosters of her soldiers in the different batteries and regiments and in the history of each as set forth in this volume. Biographical mention of some of her worthy soldiers and citizens follows the history of the regiment to which they belonged.

Soldiers of other States, who have moved to Henry County since the Civil War, and soldiers of the county, who went to other States to enlist, are properly enumerated and their record of service stated. Soldiers and sailors in the Regular Army and Navy, during and since the Civil War; West Point and Annapolis Cadets; Morgan Raid Minute Men; and soldiers of the Spanish-American War, all find mention in the pages of this History. Soldiers of the Revolutionary War and of the War of 1812-15, who found homes in Henry County, subsequent to those wars, and Mexican War soldiers, so far as known, are commemorated. The rosters of the different Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic in Henry County are also given in detail. All matters relating to the military history are embraced in the several chapters, succeeding the Chapter on "Postoffices and Postmasters," and preceding the Chapter on "The First Settlers of Henry County," with which the Civil History begins.

The Roll of Honor for the County which is believed to contain the name and place of death and burial of every soldier of the county, who lost his life in the service of the Republic, is a feature of this work to which the author has devoted especial attention.

For ease of reference, complete alphabetical lists have been made of all Henry County soldiers and sailors mentioned.

For the reason that all of the matters, above enumerated, are printed in this History, preceding any reference to the Civil History of the county, except the Chapter on Postoffices and Postmasters, the work is appropriately entitled, "Military Edition."

The author felicitates himself upon the fulfillment, however imperfectly, of a labor undertaken in behalf of the memory of his comrades of the Civil War.